About this Event
It's HALLOWEEN! The Mid-Century Supper Club Potluck is BACK!
We hereby summon you to eat, drink and be scary!
After a SIX-YEAR hiatus, we're raising The Mid-Century Supper Club Potluck from the dead like a zombie, just in time for Halloween!
The party will be at a new venue this year: The frighteningly fantastic Odd Fellows Lodge in Vallejo! (NOTE: The name is "San Pablo Lodge #43, but it is NOT in San Pablo!) If you've never dared to enter before, this haunted lodge is truly a time capsule downtown. Established in 1855 and built in 1872 (with additions in 1921), the building has hosted its share of parties, events, and was once home to the glamorous mid-century department store, City of Paris! The details are to die for. And rumor has it that it's haunted...
We will be in the second floor ballroom with a stage, a (no-host) bar, and plenty of room to display those devilish dishes and dance! Speaking of dancing, we're dying to announce that this year we'll be shaking our bones to macabre music spun by dastardly DJs Sloop Jon B and Otto Von S, so lace up your pointiest Witchy Poo boots, prepare a petrifying platter, and join us for this most spooktacular of celebrations!
As usual, there will be categories for judging, but here they are beforehand so you can plan ahead:
- Best Tasting
- Best Overall Presentation
- Best Dessert
- Creepiest Creation
- Most Authentic
- Best Use of Aspic, Inedible or Otherwise
- People's Choice
- Celebrity Guest Judge Grand Prize
Because The Odd Fellows is not a free venue, and because we'd like to see that the terrifying talent gets paid, we will be charging for tickets. And as always, please bring a can or two for food bank donations.
Thank you!
Here are the rules of engagement for new friends, and reminders for old ones:
1. Please bring an authentic dish that you have "lovingly" made! No store-bought cookies in a box, or a can of pâté just stashed on the table -- go all out and have a blast! If cooking ain't your thang, you can always bring some delicious chips and dip (in a Mid-Century Chip & Dipper if you like!) or something to nibble on -- we always appreciate those "pre-game" snacks before we dig in. And if you do cook, please bring the original recipe to display alongside your culinary creation! Print outs are fine if you don't want to bring your grandma's beloved Betty Crocker cookbook -- in fact, that's preferable. Those old cookbooks are officially antiques!
2. When you arrive, you'll display your dish on the designated table according to category (see above), and fill out a card with your name and dish. Our celebrity guest judge this year, Mimi Pond, will be testing all the terrifying treats!
3. Eating and judging will begin at 7:30 pm, to give everyone time to get there, ooh and aah, and take photos. (Which is why those pre-game snacks are so appreciated!) You can come after that, of course, but your ghoulish goulash might not be in the running to win a perilous prize. For new folks: Each category will have a voting sheet, so you can vote for your favorites, too. The Potluck is still a democracy!
3. There will be no kitchen access. Presentation is everything, but please come prepared! Please bring your dish ready to go, and have all your own supplies handy -- a platter, serving spoons, garnish, whatever it is that gives your entree that certain Mid-Century je n'est c'est quoi. So please, prep at home, and present it at the party!
4. When those pretty platters are empty (or it's just time to go home) please take them all with you! (Unless, of course, you're leaving a perfect Eva Zeisel Harlequin platter or Franciscan Starburst bowl as a gift. That we wouldn't mind.) Anything left behind will either be thrown away or goes in our cupboard (or garage sale!).
5.No outside alcoholic beverages. Bring your boos, not your booze. Fear not though! There is a no-host bar on site. Bring cash!
6. Bring your cameras! Dress the part! You can wear a Halloween costume, or wear a marvelous mid-century ensemble! The more you all get into to the spirit of the party, the more wicked fun it is.
7. Please bring a canned food donation for The Food Bank! It's only fair that this kind of gruesome gluttony be offset with a bit of charitable giving.
And as always, for reference:
Have you ever been curious about aspic? Perhaps you've itched to try out a Spam casserole? Inspired by the Mid-Century Supper Club, this is a potluck party for those of us who collect vintage cookbooks, or for those of us that merely wish to pay homage to the dietary delights of our parents' generation. Let's put those mid-century cookbooks and magazine spreads into action! Tie on your most fabulous apron, prepare a dish from a vintage cookbook or magazine, bring the source of inspiration to the party, and submit it for judging.
If you've ever looked through vintage cookbooks and booklets, you know that in the mid-century era, creative and stylish presentation was almost as important as the taste of the food...judging by some of the ingredients, maybe more so! That's why we're not worried in the least about any substitutions you may want to make...meat substitutes for the vegetarians, replacements due to allergies, heck, even shortcuts like cake mix are fine! The point is to make the dish look more-or-less like the original image, or in the mid-century spirit!
That said, dishes will be judged on accuracy of presentation, and a winner will be determined by our esteemed panel of gourmand judges. Bonus points for vintage cookware/serving dishes! For ideas, inspiration, and a point of reference, please visit the Mid-Century Supper Club on Flickr to view a collection of Potlucks Past.
It's SCARY how exciting it is that The Potluck is back... Thank you for being patient. See you on October 18th...if you dare!
FAQs
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
It's pretty easy to park in downtown Vallejo, plenty of street parking and a lot located behind The Odd Fellows. As with many places these days, be sure you lock your car and stash valuables in the trunk or out of sight. If you're drinking, PLEASE take a taxi, Uber, Lyft or carpool with a designated driver!
What can/can't I bring to the event?
Your most outstanding mid-century culinary concoctions! See above for tips & guidelines on what types of food to bring, but as a reminder, no outside alcoholic beverages will be permitted. Also, it is not advisable to bring pets. The party can get crowded and loud, and we don't want to frighten your fur babies.
Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
Sure! Please just send a note (either via email or the messaging option on the ticketing platform here) letting us know that you're giving your ticket to someone else. You can also get a refund up until October 15th (see below).
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No, we will have a list of everyone who has purchased a ticket. But if it makes you feel better to bring your ticket, by all means, bring it!
What is the refund policy?
Refunds will be given up until October15th at 5pm. After that, tickets are not refundable...barring unforeseen circumstances like decapitation, vampire abduction or zombie apocalypse, in which case, we'll either cancel or create a safehouse at the Odd Fellows. Really, nothing else should keep you from attending this, the SPOOKIEST SOIREE OF THE SEASON!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Odd Fellows Vallejo ( IOOF Odd Fellows, San Pablo Lodge #43), 342 Georgia St, Vallejo, United States
USD 39.19
